Used a credit card in the new parking meters for the first time

Surprisingly, it was very simple. However, it did draw my attention to one aspect of the new meters that could be improved – the display. Black letters on a mid-grey background do not make for very good legibility in low light conditions (such as in the early morning) or for people with poor eyesight or who have to use reading glasses. You would think a better combination could have been chosen. Are the displays ever illuminated?

The car park in City West where I park, which is owned by Lend Lease (I think), and run by Wilson Parking, has new machines which promise to become credit card friendly in the future – that promise being a hand scribbled note taped to the machine. I note that future credit card use will attract a 3% increase to the price.

The machines have recently all been replaced with shiny red ones. But now instead of just putting in your stream of coins, the person parking their car has to input their rego number in order to get a ticket.

Apart from totally flummoxing people, especially on first use, and causing longer than usual delays to get a ticket, I’m concerned over this requirement. The terms and conditions displayed by the machine don’t cover this part of the process specifically, and apart from the requirement to purchase a ticket, I’m wondering whether a fine would be issued if the rego you input is incorrect or for example you do someone a kindness and pass on your ticket. I leave that car park at 2.30 but have to pay until 8pm because of the way the charges are set up. I often passed on my ticket when rego was not required.

I’m assuming they want your rego so they can trace you in the event that you don’t pay a fine for overstaying your welcome. I believe car park in question is still inspected by government employees so they would have your rego noted on their paperwork and could trace you that way. Have they been asked to specifically check the rego on the ticket matches?

I have emailed Wilson (whose website indicates that they think the ACT is part of NSW), but received no response. I chased them up yesterday and got a call from someone who will also chase it up but could not answer my questions. Not the first time I have emailed them….and not the first time I haven’t received a response.

The car park in City West where I park, which is owned by Lend Lease (I think), and run by Wilson Parking, has new machines which promise to become credit card friendly in the future – that promise being a hand scribbled note taped to the machine. I note that future credit card use will attract a 3% increase to the price.

The machines have recently all been replaced with shiny red ones. But now instead of just putting in your stream of coins, the person parking their car has to input their rego number in order to get a ticket.

Apart from totally flummoxing people, especially on first use, and causing longer than usual delays to get a ticket, I’m concerned over this requirement. The terms and conditions displayed by the machine don’t cover this part of the process specifically, and apart from the requirement to purchase a ticket, I’m wondering whether a fine would be issued if the rego you input is incorrect or for example you do someone a kindness and pass on your ticket. I leave that car park at 2.30 but have to pay until 8pm because of the way the charges are set up. I often passed on my ticket when rego was not required.

I’m assuming they want your rego so they can trace you in the event that you don’t pay a fine for overstaying your welcome. I believe car park in question is still inspected by government employees so they would have your rego noted on their paperwork and could trace you that way. Have they been asked to specifically check the rego on the ticket matches?

I have emailed Wilson (whose website indicates that they think the ACT is part of NSW), but received no response. I chased them up yesterday and got a call from someone who will also chase it up but could not answer my questions. Not the first time I have emailed them….and not the first time I haven’t received a response.

My guess, to stop you passing on a ticket. They want the next person to pay too. More money for them.

I use the Government car park next to the old Woden CIT. You don’t need to enter your rego number, although machine assume you want to park for the maximum amount of time ($7.50). I didn’t have my reading glasses on on Friday morning so I’ll check again on Monday.

It’s a pity you can’t buy weekly or monthly tickets through the machines – or can you?

The machines have recently all been replaced with shiny red ones. But now instead of just putting in your stream of coins, the person parking their car has to input their rego number in order to get a ticket.

Apart from totally flummoxing people, especially on first use, and causing longer than usual delays to get a ticket, I’m concerned over this requirement.

Very common in the UK, though they only want the last 3 letters of the rego (rego’s mostly being LLNNLLL). The reason as you suggest is it stops you handing over your ticket with time still on it to another user.

What a silly thing to write. You only pay interest if your don’t clear what you owe on your credit card. If you pay off your credit card every month you don’t pay interest. I use my credit card for almost everything. It’s my cash. I live within my means and never pay interest on it.

What a silly thing to write. You only pay interest if your don’t clear what you owe on your credit card. If you pay off your credit card every month you don’t pay interest. I use my credit card for almost everything. It’s my cash. I live within my means and never pay interest on it.

Same here. All it requires is a bit of thinking and discipline and it won’t cost you a cent.

A lot of people and not saying all people have credit card debt so I would say interest would be getting paid on parking using a credit card . how much is credit card interest ? 20% . I don’t have or ever want a credit card.

the main guts of the question is why aren’t the new parking machines EFTPOS. Not everyone has a credit card or debit card. Everyone has a key card account can use EFTPOS.

why was it silly? I was just putting forward a situation.

It was saying using a credit card cost interest, as if that is a fact. If you pay it off in time it doesn’t have any interest charges. It seems you didn’t express yourself very clearly.
Isn’t a debit card and EFTPOS the same thing? Someone please enlighten me if it isn’t.

The wording about hourly rates is confusing to the point of being misleading, and with the rates being charged, someone could try harder to get the spelling correct – it’s “multi-deck”, not “mulit-deck” – stunned, perhaps?